Two years here! March 14, 2008

Today marks the two year anniversary of my return to Hungary; in two weeks it will be the two year anniversary of my moving to Kecskemét. My trials, my schemes, my hopes, my fears, my opened and closed doors I think have been well documented over this time. My February newsletter pointed forward; there are more trials but no schemes, there are more hopes but no fears, there are still doors to open and close. “…not that I have attained…but this one thing I do….I press towards the mark…Jesus Christ.”

We (Viktor from CC Tompa & me) are starting a bible study on Thursday nights here in the Kecs. Phenomenal interest has been shown which usually means one or two will show up…whadaya do with that…press on. I keep running into people as I go about my daily business and being lead into conversations; today it was Annette. I did not seek her out. God sent her to me to talk, answer questions to just assure the He is talking to her. Please pray for her, a mother of one who seems to have a very discerning spirit having been approached by the gambit of faiths here.

Last Wednesday I drove to Vajta to hope to meet with my friends Jim King and Kurt Kula before heading on to Budapest. My friend Tamas had called Monday night asking me to teach in Vac on Thursday. So I figured pop into Vajta in the afternoon to see Jim, head to Budi to assist with worship and meet up with Kurt Wednesday night (who was teaching there), crash at a friends then teach Thursday night in Vac – aren’t plans great.

Jim had left campus and gone to lunch with some pastors when I showed up. I visited with some students and friends as I usually do hearing that he would be back soon. I missed his return as he retired to his room before teaching that night. OK. I’ll stay the night so I can speak with Jim. We met just before he was to teach that night.

Our conversation was exactly as I thought it would be; direct, insightful, prophetic. I told him a little about what had been happening in the Kecs, future thoughts and hopes to which he replied, “Mark. What are you so fearful about? You’ve been in this country for a while; you know the word of God…what’s stopping you? You need to put down roots here, a pastor stays, the sheep may wander, but a pastor stays. Forget the past, forget any fears. Start a church.”

If you read February’s newsletter you know this landed as that proverbial ton of bricks. Before leaving for Vajta I had been preparing my study for this week in Majsa – on fear. Saul hid among the stuff when God told him he would be king…some say out of humility I think out of fear. So there I am – checkmate!

The next morning I started reading Ezekiel. I had slowed my reading the last couple of months. Jeremiah dragged out over three months. Lamentations about a week; I stopped again. Jim had been talking to me about everything that had been going on in my head for the last month. I read the first six chapters of Ezekiel…wheels turning inside of wheels, creatures, faces, wings, scrolls…but kinda spacin’ on my conversation with Jim. I got to hang with Kurt which was so good for my heart. I listened to Jim teach that morning, grabbed lunch and a shower and left to teach in Vac.

Vac was a total blessing. The pastor, Tamas, has been my friend since I first came to Hungary as we worked together in Vajta. I used Saul’s calling as an analogy for our Christian walk, how we wander looking for things, God speaks to us and like Moses we ask, ‘what have I got’; yet God still anoints us, gives us the best seat in the house for the world to see, He kisses us….is it not because we are His chosen? I drove the two+ hours home praying and thinking, thinking and praying…

Tamas sent me an SMS at 5:30 this morning thanking me for coming to teach. Everything came rushing back in my brain…God’s called us, what have I got, “Mark. What are you fearful of… put down roots here…a pastor stays, the sheep may wander, but a pastor stays...forget, forget…start a church.” I read Ezekiel again and stopped at 3:15, “Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.” I read a small commentary that talked about just that; don’t begin by talking; begin by listening and observing. That’s what I’ve been doing for these two years – listening and observing. Then I went to the coffee shop to read the word. I met Annette there.

On the way to teaching last Sunday my friend Joszef who translates often for me asked, “So when is your two year commitment up? What are you going to do?” “I think I’m staying for at least another two years…we’ll see, I’m praying about it.” “Good”, he said. Joszef, Bill and I drove to Kecskemét three years ago and prayed that the Lord would give us direction about this city. Joszef specifically prayed that a Golgota (CC) would be planted. The time of listening and observing is over. I remain here… astonished. …oh yeah…that verse reads,“…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…” I keep forgetting. We start our study this coming Thursday, 3/20/08. … Please pray for us…